Owens Ridge North Face  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  6,300' Page Views:  1,493. Good page? (1 like)    Administrators:  Aron Quiter, Euan Cameron, Adam Winters, M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Chris D on Oct 16, 2011 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

The North Face of Owens Ridge, as seen from a priv...

Description 

The massive North Face of Owens Ridge can be seen from Highway 395, teasing northbound climbers on their way to Eastern Sierra destinations. Access to this beautiful rocky face is a lot more work than it appears, as you must scale the south face of the ridge from behind, then descend loose, steep gullies to get to the start of the numerous, long routes on the various rocks of the North Face.

The granite, while beautiful from a distance, is pretty horrific up close and in person. From grainy, crumbly rock that rolls away under your feet, to flakes and horns that come off in your hand, to saucer-sized peeling layers of seemingly sunburnt slab that disintegrate into gravel when touched, all difficulty ratings should be taken with a grain of salt, and climbers should limit themselves to routes a few number grades below what they would normally lead.

Established routes have indications that they were once "clean" and the occasional clean smear can be had, but most of the rock has little sign of climbing activity.

Getting There 

Owens Ridge is accessed by driving to the parking area for the Owens Peak Trail, as described in the Indian Wells Canyon area entry.

From the parking area, walk down into the bottom of the canyon, then climb about 1,000 feet on loose soil and talus up ridges and along game trails to get to the rock, aiming for the appropriate notch in the ridge between the rock you intend to climb and its neighbor. See specific rocks for detailed approach directions.

The Classics

Featured Route For Owens Ridge North Face

El Centro 5.5 R  CA : Sierra Eastside : ... : Rock II - North Face

From the end of the rappel to the forest, a huge chimney is visible to the right. El Centro begins pretty much right in front of you, about 40 feet to the left of the big chimney.The route climbs a crack system up to and over the right end of a ragged arch about 200 feet off the deck. Once you're above the arch, traverse above it to the left into a crack that diagonals up and right. Follow this crack up to a system of ledges that you can see go back to the descent route. You could escape the...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Owens Ridge North Face Slideshow

Add Photo

North Face of Rock I